Circuit breaker



Feb. 8, 1944.

R. c. DICKINSON ETAL CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Feb. 25, 1941 1" Sheets-Sheet I WITNESSES:- 52? Vii? 5 so... m w .M mm

MWMW 5 1944- R. c. DICKINSON ET AL 2,340,942

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Feb. 25, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: INVENTORS a; fiber) C DICK/n 50/7 and M'n fhrap M Z 920 5,

1944- R. c. DICKINSON ET AL ,3

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Feb. 25, 1941 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 8, 1944 i w r-- CIRCUIT BREAKER and Winthrop M. Leeds,

Robert C. Dickinson Wilkinsburg, Pa.,

assignors to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa.,

a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 25, 1941, Serial No. 380,524 3 Claims- (Cl. 200-97) This invention relates to high-speed circuit breakers for controlling moderate to large amounts of electric power and to means for absorbing the kinetic energy of the moving parts during an operating stroke of the breaker.

Circuit breakers of large current carrying capacity are usually provided with powerful spring means or other operating devices for moving the circuit breaker to open position at high speed. It has been difiicult in circuit breakers of this character to absorb the kinetic energy of the moving parts during opening of the breaker and to prevent the contacts from reestablishing the circuit due to rebound of the movable contacts from fully open position. Air shock absorbers have been utilized in the prior art for this purpose but they become too bulky when designed for high-speed circuit breakers having high kinetic energy.

Liquid shock absorbers as used on other devices such, for instance, as automobiles are not suitable because the maximum resisting force is exerted upon pick-up of the absorber. If the resisting force is too high the contacts will rebound upon striking the absorber and before the full opening stroke is attained. If the resisting force is too low, rebound will not be greatly reduced because the resisting force falls to a low value when the velocity is low.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a circuit breaker having an improved means for absorbing the kinetic energy of the moving parts during an operating stroke of the breaker and for preventing rebound of the moving contacts. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker having an improved shock absorber including means for applying a relatively light initial resisting force to the moving parts of the breaker at an intermediate point in the operating stroke and then increasing the resisting force later in the stroke. Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker having a shock absorber for controlling movement of the breaker including a dual control member cooperating with the shock absorber to cause the absorber to first apply a light resisting force and then increase the resisting force to absorb the kinetic energy of the moving parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker having a shock absorber for controlling the movement of the breaker including a single control member cooperating with the shock absorber to cause the absorber to first apply a light resisting force tothe opening movement of the breaker and then gradually increase the resisting force.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker having a shock absorber for controlling the opening movement of the breaker during the later portion of the opening stroke comprising a control member provided with a curved surface arranged so that initially the effective moment arm of the absorber is long to apply a light initial resisting force, the effective moment arm decreasing so as to increase the applied resisting force near the end of the contact movement.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims, the invention it-- self, however, both as to structure and opera tion, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of. its embodiments when read in conjunction with the ac- 'companying drawings, in which: f

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the circuit breaker with the contacts in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the breaker in open circuit position;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the shock absorber and the contact operating rod with the dual pick-up arm just in contact with the shock absorber arm;

Fig. 4 is a detail view similar to Fig. 3 but with the shorter pick-up arm in contact with the shock absorber arm;

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the parts in the positions assumed when the contacts are fully open;

Fig. 6 is a detail View showing a modifiedform of pick-up arm in contact with the shock absorber arm;

Fig, 7 is a detail view similar to Fig. 6 but with the parts in their fully opencontact position;

Fig. 8 is a detail view partly in section of the switch assemblage; 5

Fig.9 is a plan view of the shock absorber and pick-up arm;

Fig, 10 is a graphic illustration of the resisting force and contact travel.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the circuit breaker is mounted on a steel frame ll supported on a base H3. The breaker is of the multi-pole type and includes three poles actuated by a single operating mechanism. Since the st ucture of each of the poles is alike only one pole is hereinafter described. A pair of insulating bushings l5 and H of strong insulating material extend through spaced openings in the frame H and are rigidly secured to the frame by means of bolts l9 extending through flanges 2| secured to the bushings. A pair of spaced terminal conductors 23 and 25 extend through and are rigidly supportedby the bushings .|.5 and -|1 which insulate the terminals from the .frame The terminal conductors 23 and 25 form the two terminals of the breaker.

A pair of stationary contact members 21 an 29 (see also Fig. 8) are rigidly mounted on the ends of the terminal conductors 23 and-25. These contact members are connected in the circuit controlled by "the breaker by means-of terminal connectors 3| and 33. The upper vcontactimember 21 is provided with a main contact 35, an auxiliary contact 31 and an arcing contact '39. The lower contact member 29 carries a contact 36 and has a yoke-shaped extension 4| rigidly secured thereto which serves to pivotally support a movable contact assemblage indicated generally at 43.

The movable contact assemblage comprises a channel-shaped switch member (Fig.8) which is pivotally supported on the extension 4| of the lower'stationary contact member 29;and a bridging contact arm 41. The switch member 45 comprises apair of spacedparallel'side'members 49 rigidly joined 'by cross members "5| and 52 and pivoted on a pivot pin in the extension 4|. The contact arm 41 is movablysupp-orted on'the member 5| by guide bolts 53 which slidably project through suitable openings in the cross member 5!. The 1bolts 53 are provided with nuts 54. Springs 55 surrounding the bolts 53 and compressed between the contact arm '41 andthe member 5| serve "to apply "pressure to the contacts "when the contacts "are closed.

The movable contact arm is provided with contacts 51 and59 which cooperate with the stationary main contacts 35 and '36, respectively. An. auxiliary movablecontact Bl is'secured to the end of a rod 63 slidably mounted in the cross members 5| and52. A spring'65 compressedbetween the cross member5| and'acollar 61 secured on therod 53 serves to apply pressure to the contact 5| when closed, and suitable clearances'between anut'59 and the'cross member 5| and between the collar 51 and the cross members 52 insures that the contacts 6|-31 will open after the main contacts 3551 and 35--59have opened duringan opening operation, since these clearances are slightly greater than the clear ances between the nuts 54 of the bolts 53 and the cross member 5|.

A main arcing'switch member 1| pivotally supported on the switch member 45 is provided with an arcing contact '13 which cooperates with the stationary arcing contact '38. A rod 15 pivotally connected to the auxiliary switch member 1| is slidableiin asuitable opening .in the cross member-5| 'andhas 'anu't'Tl screwed onto its outer end. 'A' spring Wis" compressed between the member 5| and the switch member "1| serves'to provide "contact-pressure. The nut11-is so spaced from the cross member 5| that the 'arcing contacts 39- 53 open after thecontacts 51-45 I.

Flexible shunt conductorsareprovided to conmeet the movable contacts with the lower terminal conductor 25. 'One shunt conductor 8| (Fig. 8) tconnects the movable contact arm 41 to the terminal conductor .29 and another shunt conductor83 connects the contact arm 41 to the 9L One .end of this link .is secured to the rod 89 and the other end is pivotally connected to the cross member 5| by a pivot pin 93 (Fig. 8) which extends through openings in ears 95 projecting from the cross member 5|. The opposite end of the operating rod :89 is pivotally connected to a crank 91' extending across all three poles and pivotally supported by spaced brackets 99 (see also Fig. '7) secured to the frame I A vertically disposed operating rod H1! is rigidly secured at its upper end to a bar I53 having parallel arms I55 rigidly secured to its ends. The bar I03 and arms 15 form a yoke for clearing the terminal conductor 25 iorthecenter'pole ('FigJ'I). Theupper'ends of'the arms I 55 arepivctally connected to the crank '91 :by pivot pins H11 extending through openings in projections H19 inte ral with the crank 91 and openings .in the ends of the arms Hi5.

The operating rod ||l| is adapted to be connected to a suitable operating mechanism (not shown) .for moving the switch assemblage 43 to open and'to .closed circuitpositions. The opening movement of the switch assemblage is limited by the'crank 9'1 striking a projection III on the frame H and theclosing movement is limited by the 'crank'91 striking a stop member I I3 adjustably mounted on bolts H5 projectingifrom the frame H. The operating-mechanism is not an important "part of the instant invention since any suitable mechanism of the typeembodying an opening spring for biasingthe'switch assemblage to open position, means .for moving the switch to :closed'positi'on and .a suitable tripping device for causing opening movement of the switch may "be'u'sed. A suitableform .of operating mechanism which'may "be connected to the vertical operatingrod |U| .is disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,807,020, granted May 26, 1931,'to B. CjVan Sickle, and'assigned'to the assignee of the. present invention.

When the'breakeris opened the arc resulting from the rupture of the circuit is extinguished by being drawn into an arc extinguisher indicated at I I1 (Figs. 1 and 2) by'means of an arcing horn ||9 secured to the terminal conductors 23 adjacent the arcing contact 39, and an arcing tip |2l integral with the switch member "1|. The arc extinguisher is "not'herein described in detail since it does not form'an important part of the present invention. Any suitable arc extinguisher may be employed.

When the breaker is in the'closed circuit position (Fig.1) the'latch -ofthe operating mechanism (not shown) releasablyh'ol'ds.the'operating rods NH and 89 and the switch assemblage 43in closedposition against the influence of the breaker opening spring and the several'contact springs 55, 55 and '19 which are held'in'compression due to the switch assemblage having been moved slightly beyond the position at which the contact arm 41 closes themain contacts.

When the breaker is tripped, theoperating rod ||l| is thrust'upwardly at high'speed 'by the force exerted by the opening spring of the breaker operating mechanism. This movement-istransmitted by the crank91 'and'rod89 to the switch 2,340,942 assemblage and, together with the reactive force of the contact springs, rocks the switch assemblage clockwise about its pivot 59. This movement of the switch assemblage-43 first separates the main contacts 35-31 and 36-59. The auxiliary contacts 31-6I are opened shortly thereafter and finally the circuit is broken upon opening of the arcing contacts 39-I3the current being carried over the terminal conductor 25, and the flexible shunt conductors 8| and 83, the cross member and the flexible shunt conductor 81 to the arcing contact member I I.

As stated previously the clockwise or opening movement of the switch assemblage is limited by the crank 91 striking the stop III (Fig. 1). If the mechanism, traveling at high speed, is sudvdenly arrested the high kinetic energy causes a sharp rebound of the switch assemblage towards closed position. The rebound is heightened by the reaction of the contact pressure springs .55, 65 and I9 which are compressed when the switch assemblage is brought to a sudden stop during the opening movement. 1

An important feature of this invention is the provision of a shock absorber so arranged and cooperating with the switch mechanism in such a manner as to first apply a relatively light resisting force, then to increase the resisting force. Eiforts have been made before to apply air or pneumatic shock absorbers to circuit breakers to prevent rebound but in high-speed large capacity breakers such absorbers are so bulky that space does not permit their use.

The shock absorber of the instant invention is of the liquid single-acting type and is indicated at I I I. The absorber itself comprises the usual cylinder and piston and is provided with an internal arm bearing on the piston and a spring for restoring the piston after an operation. The shock absorber H8 is mounted on a bracket I secured to the frame II by means of two of the bolts which secure the bushing IT to the frame. A short shaft I22 has secured to its inner end an arm (not shown) which engages the piston (also not shown) and at the outer end of the shaft is secured an arm I23 extending substantially horizontally adjacent the vertical operating rod IIlI. An arm I24 secured to the bracket I20 limits the counterclockwise movement of the arm I23 (see Fig.9).

A dual pick-up arm (Fig. 9) comprising a split block I25 is adjustably clamped to the operating rod IIlI by means of a bolt I21 and nut I29. Integral with the block I25 is a pick-up arm I3I projecting at substantially right angles across the plane of the arm I23. A second pick-up arm I33 in the shape of a cylinder is secured to the block I25 by means of the bolt I21. The arm I33 also extends across the plane of the arm I23.

When the switch assemblage 43 (Fig. 1) is in the closed circuit position, the pick-up arms I3I and I33 are below and out of engagement with the arm I23, the counterclockwise movement of said arm I23 being limited by the stop arm I24. The initial upward movement of the operating rod IIJI and the first part of the opening movement of the contact assemblage 43 are, therefore, free of any resisting force imposed by the shock absorber. This permits the parts to move at high velocity during the initial movement of the opening stroke. By adjusting the pick-up arms I3i and I33 relative to the shock absorber arm I23 the time at which the resisting force of the absorber will be applied may be varied.

When the breaker is tripped, the operating justably secured to the rod IOI rod IUI is moved upwardly at high speed by the force exerted thereon by the opening spring of the breaker operating mechanism. After the movement during which the mechanism moves at high velocity and free of restraint, the pick-up arm I3I engages the shock absorber arm I23 and the restraining force of the absorber is applied to decelerate the speed of the moving parts of the circuit breaker and its mechanism. The parts are shown in Fig. 3 at the instant the pick-up arm I3I engages the arm I23. As the rod IIJI continues its upward travel the distance from the center of the shaft I22 to the point of contact indicated at I of the pick-up arm I3I with the arm I23 slightly increases thus reducing slightly the applied resisting force of the absorber. Fig. 4 shows the parts in the positions they assume when the second pick-up arm I33 engages the absorber arm I23. Since the distance from the center of the shaft I22 to the point of contact indicated at I31 of the pick-up arm I33 with the arm I23 is less than the distance I22-I35, the effective restraining force applied by the shock absorber increases, which results in a rapid deceleration of the speed of the moving parts. This occurs near the end of the opening movement. The result is that the energy of the moving parts is largely dissipated before the crank 91 (Fig. l) strikes the stop III and the rebound of the switch assemblage 43 is minimized.

Figs. 6 and '7 illustrate a modification of the pick-up arm in which a cam member I39 is substituted for the dual pick-up arms I3I and I33. The configuration of the upper face of the member I39 is such that the efiective moment arm of the absorber arm I 23 is long when the cam I39 first engages the arm I23 and decreases rapidly as the arm I 23 rolls on the cam face. This action results in first applying a light resisting force which increases as the breaker approaches open position.

When the parts are in the closed circuit position, the cam I 39 occupies a position below the arm I23 and a suificient distance therefrom to permit unrestrained movement of the switch assemblage to approximately half open position or to a position such that any are will have been completely extinguished before the cam I 39 engages the arm I23. Fig. 6 shows the parts in the position when the cam I39 picks up the arm I23. Fig. 7 shows the pick-up cam I39 and the arm I23 in the positions they occupy at the end of the contact opening movement. The cam I39 is adto provide a convenient means for varying the time at which it will engage the arm I23 and thus determine the time the resisting force is applied to the mechanism.

Fig. 10 illustrates graphically the applied resisting force of the shock absorber and the contact travel for both embodiments of the invention. Curve A representing the applied resisting forc by means of the cam I39 (Figs. 6 and 7) and curve B the resisting force applied by means of the dual pick-up arms I3I and I 33 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5).

An adjusting screw MI is provided to adjust the resisting force of the shock absorber. This adjustment is effected in a well known manner. By rotating the screw the flow of liquid past the piston (not shown) may be regulated to increase or decrease the resisting force of the absorber.

Having described preferred embodiments of (Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive) the invention iinra'ccordance with the ,patent;statutes, it is to :be understood zthat various =;changes and modifications may be made .in -the=.embodiments disclosed without departing from the broad spirit and "scope of the invention. It is, therefore, desired that \the language of the appended claims be :given as reasonably broad .in terpretation as the prior art permits.

We claim as our invention:

,1. :In a circuit breaker, thecombination of a switch member movable to open and to closed circuit positional-means for .actuatingsaid switch member, a dashpotof the liquid type for absorbing the kineticenergy of the moving parts of said circuitbreaker during the latter part of Can-operating stroke of saidcircuit breaker, said dashpot having a rotatable crank arm disposed adjacent a part -movable with the circuit breaker, :and means on isaidpartfor: successively engaging .said dashpot crank arm durin'g the latterportion of an operating stroke at points spaced different distances iromithe axisaofirotation of said arm'to cause the decelerating .:force applied by said dashpot to the circuit-breaker .to progressively increase ;as the circuit breaker approaches the end ofsaid operating stroke.

2. In a circuit :breaker, the combination .of a switch member movable .to'open andclosed circuit positions, :mean-s for actuating .said switch member a dashpot ofthe liquid type for absorbing the kineticwenergy'oflthe moving parts of said circuit breaker' during thellatter part of anoperating stroke-ofisaid circuit-breaker, said dashpot having a rotatableccrankarm disposed adjacent apart-movable with the. circuitbreaken and a cam lon' saidpart movable with the breaker'forengaginjg said dashpotv crank arm duringthe latter portion ofan operatingstrokavthe configuration of said cam being such that itprogressively decreases themoment armwith which the dashpot resists movement of saidbreaker to thereby cause the decelerating force applied byv said dashpot to the circuit breaker .to progressively increase as the circuit breaker "approaches the end of said operating stroke.

3. In a .circuit breaker, the combination'of a switch member movable to open and closed .circuit :positions,'means for 'actuatingsaid switch memben'adashpot of the liquid typeifor absorbingthe'kineticsenergy ofthe moving parts ofsaid circuitibreakerxduring the latter portion of an operating :istroke ;of .said :circuit breaker, :said ,dashpot .havin'ga :rotatable crank arm disposed adjacent'za partz'movable with "the circuitbreaker, andsspaced projections :on said part for successively engaging said dashpot 'crank'arm during the latter portion of anwoperating stroke atipoints spaced at'different distances'from the axis'of rotation of said'crank arm'to cause the decelerating force applied .by said dashpot to the circuit breaker to progressively increase as the circuit breaker approaches the'end of said operating stroke.

"ROBERT C. DICKINSON. WINTHROP M. LEEDS. 

